Fact-checked by Grok 2 weeks ago

Drag

Drag is a form of theatrical entertainment in which performers, typically gay men designated as drag queens, don exaggerated feminine attire, heavy makeup, wigs, and mannerisms to enact comedic, lip-sync, or dance routines that parody or amplify gender stereotypes for audience amusement.^[1]^[2] The practice predominantly features male-to-female impersonation, though drag kings—female performers exaggerating masculinity—exist in smaller numbers, with performers generally ranging from late teens to 40s in age.^[2]^[3] The term "drag" derives from 19th-century British theater slang, likely referencing the trailing skirts of women's costumes worn by male actors, which "dragged" across the stage floor.^[4] Its roots extend to ancient Greek and Roman theater, where societal norms barred women from performing, necessitating male actors to portray female characters through cross-dressing and gesture.^[5] By the 19th and early 20th centuries, drag evolved within American vaudeville, burlesque, and minstrel shows, then flourished in underground speakeasies during Prohibition-era "Pansy Craze," establishing it as a staple of gay subcultural nightlife.^[5]^[6] While drag's core appeal lies in its campy subversion of norms—transforming everyday gender cues into spectacle for humor and escapism—it has sparked ongoing controversies, particularly over its frequent incorporation of sexual innuendo or explicit themes in performances, raising questions about suitability in public or family-oriented venues.^[2] Performers often navigate stigma tied to associations with homosexuality and transvestism, yet the art form's resilience stems from its role in community building and self-expression within marginalized groups, as evidenced by ethnographic studies of its psychological benefits like enhanced resilience through creative outlets.^[7] In recent decades, mainstream media exposure has amplified drag's visibility, though empirical analyses highlight persistent performer demographics centered on gay males, underscoring its origins in male homosexual culture rather than broader gender fluidity narratives.^[8]^[9]

Physics and Fluid Dynamics

Aerodynamic Drag

Aerodynamic drag is the resistive force exerted by air on an object moving through it, opposing the direction of motion and arising from interactions between the object's surface and the surrounding airflow. This force acts parallel to the relative wind and must be overcome by propulsion in vehicles like aircraft or automobiles to maintain speed. Drag generation occurs across all exposed surfaces, influenced by airflow separation, viscosity, and pressure differences.^[10] The magnitude of aerodynamic drag is quantified by the drag equation: D = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 C_d A, where D is the drag force, \rho is air density, v is the object's velocity relative to the air, C_d is the dimensionless drag coefficient, and A is the reference area (typically the frontal cross-sectional area). This quadratic dependence on velocity means drag increases rapidly with speed, doubling velocity quadruples drag at constant other factors. The drag coefficient C_d encapsulates effects of shape, surface roughness, and flow regime, varying from near 0.04 for streamlined bodies to over 1.0 for blunt shapes like spheres at low speeds.^[11]^[12] Aerodynamic drag comprises two primary components: pressure (or form) drag, resulting from unbalanced pressure distributions due to flow separation around the object, and skin friction drag, caused by viscous shear stresses in the boundary layer adhering to the surface. Pressure drag dominates for bluff bodies with large wakes, while friction drag prevails for slender, streamlined shapes; total parasite drag sums these without lift production. Induced drag, a secondary type, emerges from wingtip vortices in lifting surfaces, converting lift vector components into rearward force and scaling inversely with speed. Wave drag appears at transonic or supersonic speeds from shock waves compressing air.^[13]^[14] Key factors affecting drag include object shape, which determines flow separation and C_d (e.g., teardrop forms minimize it versus spheres at C_d \approx 0.47 subcritically); velocity, via the v^2 term and compressibility at high Mach numbers; air properties like density and viscosity; and surface conditions such as roughness, which thickens boundary layers and elevates friction. The Reynolds number (Re = \frac{\rho v L}{\mu}, with L as characteristic length and \mu viscosity) governs flow transition from laminar to turbulent regimes, reducing C_d for spheres above Re \approx 3 \times 10^5 by delaying separation, though turbulence increases friction drag. Angle of attack or yaw further modulates drag by altering effective area and pressure gradients.^[15]^[16]

Hydrodynamic Drag

Hydrodynamic drag refers to the resistive force exerted by a liquid, such as water, on an object moving relative to it, acting opposite to the direction of motion.^[17] This force arises from interactions between the object's surface and the fluid, including viscous shear and pressure differences.^[18] Unlike aerodynamic drag in gases, hydrodynamic drag involves denser fluids, typically assuming incompressible flow, which amplifies the force magnitude for equivalent velocities and geometries.^[19] The magnitude of hydrodynamic drag is quantified by the drag equation: F_d = \frac{1}{2} \rho v^2 C_d A, where \rho is the fluid density (approximately 1000 kg/m³ for water at standard conditions), v is the relative velocity, C_d is the dimensionless drag coefficient dependent on shape and flow regime, and A is the reference area, often the projected frontal area.^[20] ^[21] The drag coefficient C_d varies with the Reynolds number (Re = \frac{\rho v L}{\mu}, where L is a characteristic length and \mu is dynamic viscosity), transitioning from laminar to turbulent regimes that influence boundary layer behavior and separation.^[22] Hydrodynamic drag comprises three primary components: skin friction drag from tangential viscous stresses along the surface, form drag (or pressure drag) from normal pressure imbalances due to flow separation, and wave-making drag for bodies near or piercing the free surface, which generates energy-dissipating waves.^[17] At low speeds, skin friction dominates in streamlined shapes, while form drag prevails in bluff bodies; high velocities can induce cavitation, where vapor bubbles form and collapse, eroding surfaces and altering effective drag.^[18] For submerged vehicles like submarines, optimized hull forms achieve low C_d values around 0.1, compared to 0.35 for less refined designs, emphasizing slender, axisymmetric profiles to minimize separation.^[23] In marine applications, such as ship hulls or submarines, hydrodynamic drag directly impacts propulsion efficiency and speed limits; for instance, surface ships experience additional resistance from wave drag proportional to the Froude number (Fr = \frac{v}{\sqrt{gL}}, where g is gravity).^[24] Empirical data from towing tank tests and computational fluid dynamics validate these principles, with drag reduction strategies including hull streamlining, appendage minimization, and coatings to delay boundary layer transition.^[22]

Engineering and Technology

Drag in Vehicle Design

Aerodynamic drag constitutes the primary resistance force opposing a vehicle's forward motion through air, arising from pressure differences and skin friction along the body surface. This force scales with the square of velocity, making it negligible at low speeds but dominant above approximately 80 km/h (50 mph), where it can account for over 50% of total resistance in passenger cars.^[25] The magnitude of drag is calculated using the formula F_d = \frac{1}{2} C_d \rho A v^2, where C_d represents the dimensionless drag coefficient (dependent on shape), \rho is air density (typically 1.225 kg/m³ at sea level), A is the projected frontal area, and v is vehicle speed.^[25] Minimizing drag enhances fuel economy, extends range in electric vehicles, and improves high-speed stability, influencing design priorities from sedans to heavy trucks.^[26] The drag coefficient C_d serves as a key metric for evaluating aerodynamic performance, with values derived from wind tunnel testing or computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Streamlined shapes, such as the ideal teardrop form, yield C_d as low as 0.04, but practical automotive constraints like passenger space and manufacturing elevate typical car C_d to 0.25–0.35.^[27]^[25] Early recognition of drag's impact emerged post-World War I, when aviation principles informed automotive streamlining; the 1921 Rumpler Tropfen-Wagen achieved one of the first low-C_d passenger car designs (approximately 0.28) through a bulbous, tapered body mimicking fluid flow.^[28] By the 1930s, wind tunnel adoption—initially from aeronautics—enabled quantitative optimization, as seen in Mercedes-Benz racers with enclosed wheels and underbody panels that reduced drag via smoother airflow.^[29] Design strategies to reduce drag focus on disrupting flow separation and minimizing wake size. Rear-end tapering (e.g., Kammback profiles) cuts base drag by 20–30% by truncating the body after initial streamlining, avoiding full teardrop impracticality.^[30] Underbody smoothing with flat panels or diffusers lowers turbulence-induced drag by up to 10%, while frontal optimizations like sloped hoods and air dams reduce pressure drag.^[26] For trucks, add-ons such as cab roof fairings and side skirts decrease gap flows, yielding 5–15% drag reductions per component in heavy-duty applications.^[31] Active systems, including deployable spoilers, further adapt to speed, though passive features dominate production designs for cost and reliability.^[32] These approaches, validated through empirical testing, underscore drag's causal role in efficiency, with reductions directly correlating to 1–2% fuel savings per 0.01 C_d drop at highway speeds.^[33]

Drag in Computing Interfaces

In graphical user interfaces (GUIs), drag refers to a direct manipulation gesture where a user selects an on-screen object—such as an icon, window, or text selection—using a pointing device like a mouse or trackpad by pressing and holding the primary input button, then displaces the device to move a visual representation of the object across the display, before releasing the button to complete the relocation or action. This operation, often paired with drop to form drag-and-drop, enables efficient, intuitive control over digital elements without reliance on menus or commands, mimicking physical handling.^[34]^[35] The technique emerged in the 1970s at Xerox PARC, with David Canfield Smith's 1975 Pygmalion system providing one of the earliest implementations; Pygmalion, a visual programming environment built on Smalltalk, allowed users to drag icons to invoke functions, pass arguments, and manipulate graphical elements, demonstrating drag as a core affordance for interactive computing.^[36]^[37] Smalltalk's influence extended these concepts, integrating drag into overlapping windows and object-oriented interfaces that inspired broader GUI adoption. Commercial popularization followed with Apple's Macintosh, launched January 24, 1984, which incorporated drag for file movement, window resizing, and icon arrangement, leveraging bitmap graphics and the mouse to make such operations accessible to non-experts.^[38]^[39] Effective drag interfaces adhere to principles of visibility and feedback: during acquisition, the cursor typically changes to indicate grasp (e.g., a hand icon), the dragged object may enlarge or trail a shadow for tangibility, and potential drop zones highlight to signify validity, reducing errors in tasks like reordering lists or inserting media.^[34] Release triggers immediate system response, such as snapping to grids or undoing via escape, with modern variants supporting multitouch on mobile devices for pinch-drag combinations in apps like photo editors.^[40] Accessibility enhancements, including keyboard equivalents and screen reader announcements, ensure usability beyond mice, as outlined in platform guidelines.^[35] Drag operations underpin diverse applications, from operating system file managers (e.g., Windows Explorer or Finder) for copying data between folders, to development tools for code block assembly, and web interfaces via HTML5 APIs since 2010 for dynamic content rearrangement without page reloads. Empirical studies affirm drag's efficiency for spatial tasks, with users completing rearrangements 20-30% faster than menu alternatives, though overuse can fatigue touch users or conflict with precision pointing.^[41]^[42]

Performance and Cross-Dressing

Historical Origins

Cross-dressing in theatrical performance originated in ancient Greek theater around the 5th century BCE, where men exclusively portrayed female characters due to societal prohibitions against women appearing onstage.^[5]^[43] This practice stemmed from religious and cultural norms viewing public female performance as disruptive to social order, with male actors using costumes, masks, and vocal techniques to represent women in tragedies and comedies by playwrights like Aeschylus and Aristophanes.^[44] Similar conventions persisted in Roman theater and were revived in Elizabethan England during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, where boy actors or adult men played female roles in works by William Shakespeare, as women remained barred from professional stages until 1660.^[45] These instances involved practical cross-dressing for narrative necessity rather than the exaggerated, comedic stylization characteristic of later drag entertainment. The term "drag," denoting such cross-dressed performance, emerged in 19th-century British theater slang, likely referring to the trailing hems of women's dresses worn by male actors, which "dragged" across the stage floor.^[4] By the early 18th century in England, literary accounts describe performances resembling modern drag queens, featuring men in elaborate female attire for satirical or burlesque effects, often in urban taverns or early variety shows, marking a shift toward entertainment beyond strict theatrical convention.^[2] Organized drag as a distinct performative tradition developed in the United States during the mid-19th century, with the earliest documented drag ball occurring on November 16, 1867, at Hamilton Lodge Ball in Harlem, New York, where men and women competed in cross-dressed categories.^[6] William Dorsey Swann, an African American activist and performer dubbed the "Queen of Drag," hosted private drag soirees in Washington, D.C., from the 1880s to 1890s, challenging obscenity laws through legal defenses that prefigured later LGBTQ+ advocacy, though his events emphasized glamour and social rebellion over ancient theatrical precedents.^[46] These gatherings, often clandestine due to vice raids, laid groundwork for drag's evolution into vaudeville and burlesque by the early 20th century, where white performers like Julian Eltinge achieved mainstream fame in female impersonation acts from 1906 onward.^[47]^[48]

Techniques and Elements

Drag performances typically involve male artists adopting exaggerated feminine personas through specialized visual and performative techniques. Core elements include elaborate costuming, such as satin dresses, ornate gowns, and hyperbolic women's attire designed to evoke stereotypes rather than everyday femininity, often seen in late 19th-century drag balls where participants wore glamorous outfits emulating thin-waisted silhouettes.^[5]^[2] Makeup constitutes a foundational technique, requiring heavy foundation applied over the face to conceal facial hair shadow, followed by contouring with darker shades under cheekbones, jawline, and hairline to sculpt a more angular, feminine structure, while lighter highlights emphasize the forehead, nose bridge, and cheek apples.^[2]^[49] Eye makeup features bold eyeshadows in vibrant colors like blue, winged eyeliner, and layered false eyelashes trimmed for fit and secured with adhesive, historically including inverted V-shaped brows extending up the forehead for dramatic effect.^[49] Lips are over-lined with liner two to three shades darker than the intended color, filled, and topped with matte lipstick and gloss for emphasis.^[49] Body modification techniques enhance the illusion of female anatomy. Tucking, a common method among male drag performers, entails gently pushing the testes into the inguinal canals, pulling the penis backward between the legs, and securing the arrangement with tight underwear, gaffs, or medical tape to flatten the crotch area under form-fitting garments, performed with care to avoid discomfort or injury.^[50] Padding, using silicone prosthetics or foam hip and breast inserts, creates exaggerated curves, complementing high heels that alter posture for a swaying gait. Wigs, often synthetic or human hair in voluminous styles like beehives or long curls, cover natural hair and complete the head-to-toe transformation, with glue or pins for stability during movement.^[2] Performative elements emphasize theatricality over realism. Lip-syncing dominates routines, where artists mouth pre-recorded songs with precise facial expressions matching lyrics, incorporating choreographed dances, splits, kicks, and "death drops"—sudden squats or falls for dramatic flair—while prioritizing emotional conveyance over live vocals.^[51] Historical precedents include the cakewalk, a strutting dance resembling modern voguing, performed at 1880s drag events as competitions of poise and exaggeration.^[5] These techniques, rooted in vaudeville and ballroom traditions, prioritize audience engagement through confrontation, teasing, and boisterous displays like flesh-flashing, distinguishing drag from mere cross-dressing by its emphasis on spectacle.^[2]

Notable Figures and Evolution

Drag performance, involving men dressing in exaggerated feminine attire for theatrical effect, traces its roots to ancient Greek and Roman theater, where males portrayed female characters due to prohibitions on women performing.^[5] This practice persisted into the Elizabethan era, exemplified by Shakespeare's plays, where boy actors or men took female roles, and the term "drag" originated from the trailing of long dresses on stage.^[52] By the 19th century, female impersonation appeared in American minstrel shows, evolving into vaudeville acts in the early 20th century that emphasized individual performers over ensemble casts.^[5] Underground drag balls emerged in the 1860s in Harlem, with formalized competitions by 1867 at venues like Hamilton Lodge, though these faced periodic crackdowns.^[6] The mid-20th century saw drag shift toward subversive gay subculture expression, gaining visibility post-Stonewall riots in 1969, before mainstreaming in the 1980s via New York City's ballroom scene and films like Paris Is Burning (1990).^[5] Contemporary drag exploded commercially with RuPaul's Drag Race premiering in 2009, transforming it into a competitive reality format that popularized lip-syncing, runway walks, and persona development among participants. Early notable figures include William Dorsey Swann, an African American activist who organized drag balls in Washington, D.C., starting in the 1880s and styling himself the "Queen of Drag," predating modern queer activism.^[46] In the 18th century, John Cooper, performing as Princess Seraphina, socialized in London's molly houses—covert gay venues—dressed in full feminine regalia, as documented in court records from 1726 raids.^[53] Julian Eltinge, active from 1900 to the 1940s, headlined vaudeville and Broadway as a premier female impersonator, earning $15,000 weekly by 1918 and starring in silent films like The Fascinating Mrs. Holyman (1917), while maintaining a public image of conventional masculinity offstage.^[54] Mid-century icons advanced drag's political edge; José Sarria performed at San Francisco's Black Cat nightclub from 1955, becoming the first openly gay candidate for public office in 1961 by running for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in drag as Empress José I.^[54] Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead), collaborating with filmmaker John Waters from 1967, embodied grotesque camp in films such as Female Trouble (1974) and Pink Flamingos (1972), influencing punk and horror aesthetics with her signature heavy makeup and larger-than-life persona.^[54] Crystal LaBeija, frustrated with racial exclusion in established houses, founded the influential House of LaBeija in 1970, pioneering the ballroom system's familial structure that emphasized vogueing and category competitions.^[54] Drag kings, focusing on masculine impersonation typically by women, gained prominence in the 1990s amid riot grrrl and queer performance scenes; Mo B. Dick is credited as a foundational figure, debuting in 1995 with hyper-masculine acts drawing from hip-hop and wrestling personas at International Guild of Drag Kings events.^[55] Elvis Herselvis (Leigh Crow), performing since the late 1980s, fused Elvis Presley tributes with feminist satire, releasing albums like Packin' My Suitcase (1995) and performing at venues from San Francisco clubs to international festivals.^[56] In the modern era, RuPaul Andre Charles rose in the 1990s with hits like "Supermodel (You Better Work)" (1992), but achieved global influence through RuPaul's Drag Race, which by 2025 had aired over 200 episodes across 16 seasons, launching careers for contestants like Sasha Velour and Trixie Mattel while commodifying drag elements like sewing challenges and shade-throwing. This evolution reflects drag's transition from theatrical necessity and subcultural rebellion to televised spectacle, though critics note mainstream adaptations often dilute its underground edge for broader appeal.^[5] Drag performances have experienced varying degrees of cultural acceptance, particularly since the mainstream popularity of television programs like RuPaul's Drag Race, which premiered in 2009 and expanded internationally, fostering global fanbases and influencing perceptions of drag as entertainment and self-expression.^[57] In the United States, a 2023 YouGov poll found 58% of Americans opposed state laws restricting drag shows, indicating broad tolerance for adult-oriented performances, though support dropped significantly when minors were involved.^[58] Internationally, drag thrives in gender-diverse cultures such as Thailand's cabaret scenes and Brazil's carnival traditions, where it celebrates fluidity, but faces risks in conservative or anti-LGBTQ+ nations like Russia or parts of the Middle East, where performers report threats to safety.^[59]^[60] Social reception has polarized along ideological lines, with progressive and LGBTQ+ communities often viewing drag as subversive art challenging gender norms, while conservatives criticize it as sexualized content unsuitable for public spaces or children.^[61] A 2022 Rasmussen poll revealed 60% of American parents deemed drag events like Drag Queen Story Hour (DQSH) inappropriate for children, citing concerns over exposure to adult themes.^[62] Republican respondents in a 2023 YouGov survey showed only 8% support for minors attending drag shows, with 25% favoring outright bans, reflecting views of drag as promoting indoctrination or grooming.^[58] Over 120 drag events faced protests, threats, or attacks in 47 U.S. states in 2022, per GLAAD, often amplified by right-wing media framing drag as a threat to traditional values.^[63] Feminist critiques, particularly from gender-critical perspectives, argue drag reinforces rather than subverts misogyny by exaggerating feminine stereotypes into hypersexualized caricatures, as noted by writer Julie Bindel, who describes it as humiliating women under the guise of performance.^[64] Radical feminists contend that drag's reliance on terms like "bitch" or objectified depictions mocks female embodiment without genuine critique of patriarchy.^[65] These views contrast with academic defenses framing drag as empowering queer pedagogy, though empirical studies on child impacts remain sparse and contested, with no robust evidence of psychoeducational benefits outweighing risks of early sexualization.^[66] DQSH, launched in 2015 to promote literacy and diversity, has epitomized these tensions, sparking over 100 library protests by 2023 amid revelations of vetted performers with criminal histories, including a Houston case where a 2022 reader had prior child sex offense convictions.^[67]^[61] Such incidents have fueled legislative responses, with Republican-led states like Tennessee and Florida enacting restrictions on minors' attendance at "adult cabaret" performances by 2023, prioritizing child protection over free expression claims.^[68] Despite backlash, drag's commercial success persists, with global franchises adapting to local contexts, though source biases in media coverage—often downplaying conservative and feminist concerns—highlight institutional skews favoring progressive narratives.^[69]

Motorsports

Drag Racing

Drag racing is a form of motorsport in which specialized vehicles accelerate in a straight line from a standing start over a measured distance, typically 1,000 feet (305 meters) for professional categories or a quarter-mile (402 meters) for others, competing head-to-head to determine the first to cross the finish line.^[70] The sport emphasizes raw acceleration, power-to-weight ratios, and precise launches, with races lasting mere seconds and reaching speeds exceeding 330 mph (531 km/h) in top classes.^[71] Originating in the United States as an informal outlet for hot rodders in the post-World War II era, it evolved from unsanctioned street racing on dry lake beds, such as those in California's Mojave Desert, where enthusiasts tested modified cars in the late 1930s and 1940s.^[72] The first organized drag race occurred on March 2, 1949, at a decommissioned Marine Corps air base in Goleta, California, marking the shift toward structured competition.^[73] The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA), founded in 1951 by Wally Parks, played a pivotal role in legitimizing the sport by establishing safety standards, rulebooks, and dedicated drag strips to supplant dangerous street racing.^[74] The inaugural NHRA national event was held in Great Bend, Kansas, in 1955, while the first permanent drag strip opened at Santa Ana, California, in 1950, hosting the sport's first "official" race.^[75] By the 1960s, advancements like supercharged nitro-fueled engines propelled top speeds beyond 200 mph, prompting safety innovations such as mandatory roll cages (introduced in 1956) and fire-retardant driver suits.^[76] The NHRA's influence extended globally, with international bodies like the FIA adopting similar formats, though U.S.-centric events dominate, drawing over 100,000 spectators annually to major meets like the Gatornationals.^[77] Races occur on purpose-built strips with a prepared surface for optimal traction, starting via an automated "Christmas tree" system of lights that measures driver reaction time—typically 0.400 seconds or better to avoid a foul.^[78] Professional classes include Top Fuel dragsters, which use 11,000-horsepower supercharged V8 engines burning nitromethane and achieve elapsed times (ET) under 3.7 seconds over 1,000 feet; Funny Cars, with enclosed, aerodynamic bodies over similar powerplants; Pro Stock, relying on naturally aspirated engines limited to 500 cubic inches; and Pro Stock Motorcycle.^[78] Bracket racing, common in sportsman divisions, employs a handicap system where slower cars receive head starts based on dialed-in ET predictions, emphasizing consistency over outright speed.^[79] Safety protocols, enforced rigorously since the 2008 reduction of Top Fuel and Funny Car distances to 1,000 feet following fatal accidents, mandate parachutes for deceleration, SFI-rated fire suits, and HANS devices to mitigate head injuries.^[80] Current NHRA national records underscore the sport's engineering extremes: in Top Fuel, Brittany Force holds the speed mark at 343.16 mph (552.5 km/h) set on July 20, 2025, at Sonoma Raceway, with an ET of 3.645 seconds.^[81] Funny Car records stand at 341.85 mph by Ron Capps, reflecting incremental gains from fuel mixtures, tire compounds, and chassis tuning.^[82] These feats, verified through onboard telemetry and track sensors, highlight causal factors like traction management and boost control, though risks persist, with over 200 driver fatalities since inception prompting ongoing scrutiny of power limits.^[71]

Agriculture and Tools

Drag Implements

Drag implements in agriculture encompass trailing tillage tools, such as drag harrows, designed to perform secondary soil cultivation by smoothing, leveling, and lightly incorporating residues after primary plowing or disking. These implements typically feature flexible frames with teeth or chains that are pulled behind tractors, horses, or ATVs to break up clods, distribute manure, and prepare seedbeds without deep inversion of soil layers.^[83] Unlike powered rotary tillers, drag implements rely on weight and traction for action, making them suitable for lighter soils and maintenance tasks.^[84] Common types include chain drag harrows, which consist of interconnected chains or flexible tines for gentle agitation, and spike-tooth drags with rigid or semi-rigid peg-like teeth spaced 6-10 inches apart on sectional frames. Chain drags, often 4-12 feet wide, excel in pasture renovation by dethatching, spreading manure, and stimulating grass growth without compacting soil, and can attach via pins, chains, or three-point hitches for versatility across small tractors or ATVs.^[83] ^[85] Spike drags, historically sections 3-5 feet wide, use curved spikes to rake up rocks and debris for manual removal while aerating the top 2-4 inches of soil.^[86] Adjustable-tooth variants allow angle modifications for varying aggression in weed control or residue management.^[83] In practice, drag implements reduce soil compaction compared to heavier disc harrows and promote water infiltration in no-till or reduced-till systems, with working widths scalable from 4 feet for gardens to 16 feet for larger fields. They are deployed post-harvest to shred crop residues like corn stalks or cover crop debris, enhancing decomposition before planting, and in livestock areas to integrate manure uniformly, potentially increasing nutrient availability by 20-30% through better distribution.^[87] Historical records trace spike-tooth drags to early 19th-century horse-drawn designs, evolving from rudimentary wooden frames to steel-constructed models by the late 1800s for improved durability under draft animal power.^[86] Today, manufacturers produce galvanized steel versions weighing 100-500 pounds per section, emphasizing low-maintenance operation for sustainable farming on slopes or uneven terrain where precision depth control is unnecessary.^[88]

Geography

Places Named Drag

Drag Lake is a lake located in Haliburton County, Ontario, Canada, with coordinates 45° 4′ 28″ N, 78° 24′ 39″ W; it was officially named on January 17, 1952, by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry.^[89] Nearby, Drag River is a river in the same county, recognized officially in Canadian geographical records.^[90] In Sweden, Drag (including Söregärde) is a locality in Kalmar Municipality, Kalmar County, with a population of 274 residents recorded in 2010.^[91] Drag is also a small village in Hamarøy Municipality, Nordland County, northern Norway, situated along coastal areas of the region.^[92] These locations derive their names independently, often linked to topographic or historical features involving pulling or hauling, though specific etymologies vary by site.

Other Meanings

Verbal and Idiomatic Uses

The verb drag denotes the act of pulling or drawing an object along a surface, typically with considerable effort or resistance, as in hauling a heavy load across the ground.^[93] ^[94] This usage derives from Old English dragan, meaning to draw or pull, which stems from Proto-Germanic draganą and has cognates in Old Norse draga.^[94] ^[95] Earliest recorded attestations appear in Middle English texts around 1440, often in contexts of forcible movement.^[96] Extended verbal senses include compelling or extracting something by force, such as "dragging" reluctant participants to an event or pulling information from a source.^[93] In modern computing, to drag refers to selecting and moving digital elements, like icons or text, across a screen using a mouse or touch input, a usage emerging with graphical user interfaces in the late 20th century.^[93] Idiomatic expressions employing drag often convey reluctance, tedium, or reputational harm. "To drag one's feet" (or heels) means to procrastinate or delay action intentionally, implying slow progress despite capability, with origins in literal imagery of hindered movement documented by the early 20th century.^[97] ^[98] "What a drag" describes an activity or situation as boring or tedious, a slang sense popularized in mid-20th-century American English to liken monotony to laborious pulling.^[93] "To drag through the mud" (or mire) signifies severely damaging someone's reputation through public criticism or scandal, evoking the defilement of literal dragging over dirt, with recorded use from the 1920s onward.^[99]

References

[1]
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/drag-queen
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A Natural History of the Drag Queen Phenomenon - PMC - NIH
Drag queens are gay individuals who dress as women to perform, often in outlandish costumes, and are typically in their late teens to 40s.
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drag queen noun - Definition, pictures, pronunciation and usage notes
a person, usually a man, who wears special, very bright or colourful women's clothes and make-up as part of an entertainment act.
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Learn about the fabulous history of drag and some famous historical drag queens including Princess Seraphina and Julian Eltinge.
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Jun 2, 2023 · Some historians believe that drag's early history can be traced to theater in ancient Greece and Rome, where men would play female characters.
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Jun 7, 2023 · In the 19th century, drag was used in reference to perform in clothes or a persona different than your own gender, however according to the ...
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Nov 3, 2023 · This diverse group came from various backgrounds, but most identified as White, gay, and male, reflecting the broader demographics of the drag ...
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Feb 17, 2019 · An empirical analysis of contestant performance for all seasons of RuPaul's Drag Race (excluding All-Stars, which would be a mess to standardize).
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Dec 21, 2023 · “Drag Queens possess unique characteristics as a subpopulation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community that warrant ...
[10]
What is Drag? | Glenn Research Center - NASA
Jul 21, 2022 · Drag is the aerodynamic force that opposes an aircraft's motion through the air. Drag is generated by every part of the airplane (even the engines!).Drag · Aerodynamic Friction · Form Drag
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Drag equals the drag coefficient times the density times the. Drag depends on the density of the air, the square of the velocity, the air's viscosity and ...
[12]
Modern Drag Equation - Glenn Research Center - NASA
Jan 21, 2023 · The modern drag equation is: D = .5 * Cd * r * V^2 * A, where D is drag, Cd is drag coefficient, r is air density, V is velocity, and A is wing ...
[13]
Drag of Blunt Bodies and Streamlined Bodies
A body moving through a fluid experiences a drag force, which is usually divided into two components: frictional drag, and pressure drag.<|separator|>
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[PDF] Chapter 5: Aerodynamics of Flight - Federal Aviation Administration
Drag is the force that resists movement of an aircraft through the air. There are two basic types: parasite drag and induced drag. The first is called parasite ...
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Sep 9, 2025 · The drag coefficient for a sphere is given with a range of values because the drag on a sphere is highly dependent on Reynolds number. Flow past ...
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Jun 30, 2025 · The aerodynamic drag on an object depends on several factors, including the shape, size, inclination, and flow conditions.
[17]
The Science Behind Hydrodynamic Drag | System Analysis Blog
Drag occurs when an object moves through a gas or liquid at high velocity. · Hydrodynamic drag will be much larger than skin friction drag at high velocity.
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Jul 20, 2022 · When a solid object moves through a fluid it will experience a resistive force, called the drag force, opposing its motion. The fluid may be a ...
[19]
Aerodynamic Drag - The Physics Hypertextbook
When the fluid is a gas like air, it is called aerodynamic drag or air resistance . When the fluid is a liquid like water it is called hydrodynamic drag, but ...
[20]
Drag Force - BYJU'S
Drag Force Equation. Drag Equation is used to find the force of drag on an object due to motion through an enclosed fluid system.
[21]
Drag Equation | Glenn Research Center - NASA
Jul 1, 2025 · The drag equation states that drag D is equal to the drag coefficient Cd times the density rho (ρ) times half of the velocity V squared times the reference ...Missing: definition principles
[22]
[PDF] Fluid-Dynamic Drag
Hoerner has added two chapters on hydrodynamics; the title has been changed accordingly. It is certain that this expansion of scope will meet with approval from.
[23]
[PDF] Some Aspects of Submarine Design Part 1. Hydrodynamics (U) - DTIC
The drag coefficient was only 0.1 compared to 0.35 on previous submersible designs. It is clear that scientific studies should be a starting point for any ...
[24]
Hydrodynamic Force - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics
Hydrodynamic forces are defined as the fluid shearing and pressure forces that cause fine particles to move along with the flow of the fluid, influenced by the ...
[25]
How to calculate aerodynamic drag force - x-engineer.org
The aerodynamic drag force acting on a vehicle while moving is approximated by the formula [2]: F ad = 0.5 · C d · A · ρ air · (v – v wind ) 2 (1)Definition · Drag Coefficient · Frontal Area
[26]
Drag Reduction: The Pursuit of Better Fuel Economy
Methods of decreasing the drag coefficient of a vehicle include re-shaping the rear end, covering the underside of the vehicles, and reducing the amount of ...
[27]
Drag Coefficient - The Engineering ToolBox
The drag coefficient quantifies the drag or resistance of an object in a fluid environment. Any object moving through a fluid experiences drag.
[28]
Aerodynamics history at Mercedes Benz.
Sep 19, 2025 · Shortly after the First World War, the experts began to deal with the aerodynamics of automobiles. Aircraft designer Eduard Rumpler (1872-1940) ...
[29]
Automotive Aerodynamics - A Brief History - Resolved Analytics
The key to unlocking this science was the wind tunnel. Though first developed for aeronautics in the 1870s and famously used by the Wright Brothers, wind ...
[30]
[PDF] Aerodynamics of Road Vehicles
There is no question, however, that aerodynamics 'does influence design. The high trunk typical of notchback cars with low drag is the most striking example.
[31]
[PDF] Systematic Approach to Analyzing and Reducing Aerodynamic Drag ...
This paper presents an approach for reducing aerodynamic drag of heavy vehicles by sys- tematically analyzing trailer components using existing computational ...
[32]
Drag reduction by application of aerodynamic devices in a race car
Jan 28, 2021 · This research aims to examine the effects of different add on devices on the vehicle to reduce drag and make the vehicle aerodynamically streamlined.
[33]
[PDF] Aerodynamics and its role in enhancing fuel efficiency in automotive ...
The drag coefficient (Cd) is a crucial measure of a vehicle's aerodynamic efficiency. It quantifies how effectively a vehicle can minimize resistance as it ...<|separator|>
[34]
Drag–and–Drop: How to Design for Ease of Use - NN/G
Feb 23, 2020 · Drag-and-drop involves acquiring, moving, and deselecting an object. Use clear signifiers, feedback, and ensure accessibility for effective ...Clear Signifiers and Feedback... · Cursor Changes · Feedback that an Object Has...
[35]
Drag and drop | Apple Developer Documentation
Using drag and drop, people can move or duplicate selected photos, text, and other content by dragging the selection from one location to another.
[36]
[PDF] Smith DC 1975 - Pygmalion
PYGMALION: A Creative Programming Environment by. David Canfield Smith. ABSTRACT. PYGMALION is a two-dimensional, visual programming system implemented on an.
[37]
[PDF] A Creative Programming Environment, Remixed - MIT Media Lab
It was probably the first system to introduce drag and drop as a way of passing arguments to functions. ... Smith, David Canfield, Pygmalion, A Creative ...
[38]
Forty Years Ago, the Mac Triggered a Revolution in User Experience
Jan 19, 2024 · When it was introduced in 1984, Apple's Macintosh didn't have any striking technological breakthroughs, but it did make it easier for people to operate a ...Missing: date | Show results with:date
[39]
Smalltalk Blew Steve Jobs's Mind - IEEE Spectrum
Mar 1, 2023 · Smalltalk-78 had a graphical user interface that greatly impressed Steve Jobs when he saw it demoed in 1979.
[40]
Drag-and-Drop UX: Guidelines and Best Practices
Apr 12, 2023 · Best practices include making it feel like physical movement, using design states, moving items towards users, and using magnetic effects.Drag-And-Drop Should... · Use The Right Cursors and... · Allow Users To UndoMissing: principles | Show results with:principles
[41]
Drag & Drop UX Design Best Practices - Pencil & Paper
Apr 25, 2024 · Generally speaking, use cases in drag and drop are moving items, reordering a list, resizing containers and power user drag and drop interactions.
[42]
Design Principles for Drag-and-Drop Interfaces | AppMaster
Sep 12, 2023 · Visual clarity is the foundation of a successful drag-and-drop interface, as it helps users easily identify draggable elements, their drop zones ...
[43]
When men were men (and women, too): — Harvard Gazette
Jul 17, 2003 · The Greeks believed that allowing women to perform publicly would be too dangerous and that having men portray them neutralized the danger.
[44]
Classic Drag: The Greek Creation of Female Parts - jstor
"Woman" was played by male actors in drag, while actual women were banned from the stage. The classical acting practice reveals the construction of the ...
[45]
From Ancient Greece to Angry Inch, Take a Look at the History of ...
Aug 15, 2015 · Some female roles were played by men, either countertenors (men who sing in a middle female, or alto, range) or sopranists (men who sing in the ...
[46]
The Art of Drag: A Brief History - Jackson County Library District
Jun 25, 2024 · Drag's history includes Shakespearean actors, Vaudeville, 1880s drag balls, and the rise of Crystal LaBeija's ballroom culture.
[47]
How Drag Queens Have Sashayed Their Way Through History
Jun 27, 2019 · DeCaro traces the modern drag movement back to Julian Eltinge, an American vaudeville performer, singer and actor in the early 20th century.
[48]
How Drag Queens Have Sashayed Their Way Through History - NPR
Jun 27, 2019 · DeCaro traces the modern drag movement back to Julian Eltinge, an American vaudeville performer, singer and actor in the early 20th century.
[49]
From Vaudeville To RuPaul: A Look At The History Of Drag Queen ...
Aug 9, 2023 · Eyebrows were turned into inverted V's that stretched halfway up the forehead. Blue eyeshadow coupled with false lashes became a mainstay. Heavy ...
[50]
How to tuck: A no nonsense guide from a Drag Queen.
Mar 4, 2021 · You simply cup your balls, and gently push them up under the skin at the front of your body. They kind of sit just above and to the sides the ...
[51]
Drag and the Art of the Lip-Sync: How Queens Entertain
Nov 29, 2021 · A significant part of drag performances are powerful lip-syncs complete with kicks, splits, and death drops.
[52]
The Evolution of Drag: A History of Self-Expressionism. - By Arcadia
Dec 12, 2021 · In the roaring 20s, drag shifted from an ensemble performance to an individual form of entertainment, also known as "Vaudeville". The genre ...
[53]
History's most incredible drag queens and kings - BBC
Jan 31, 2023 · For example, there's John Cooper, the 18th-Century Englishman who dressed up as his drag alter ego Princess Seraphina and frequented London ...
[54]
9 Drag Queens Who Made History
Jun 26, 2024 · 9 Drag Queens Who Made History · William Dorsey Swann · Julian Eltinge · Crystal LaBeija · Darcelle XV · José Sarria · Divine · Joan Jett Blakk · Lady ...
[55]
Drag King History
Mo B. Dick is cited as a founding father of the modern-day drag king movement, starting in 1995. Drag kings and queens have a long and rich history.
[56]
Drag Kings: The Evolution of a Subversive Art Form
Leigh Crow, another iconic Drag King who performs as Elvis Herselvis, adds that this era allowed for the development of diverse characters within the Drag King ...<|separator|>
[57]
How RuPaul's 'Drag Race' Unites Fans Across Cultures - Forbes
Dec 28, 2024 · Drag Race has always been an unapologetic representation of previously underrepresented queerness and self-expression.
[58]
Who do Americans think should be allowed to attend drag shows?
Apr 14, 2023 · One-quarter (25%) of Republicans favor banning drag shows entirely, and just 8% support allowing minors to attend them; 58% think they should be ...
[59]
A Look at Drag Culture in Anti-LGBTQ Countries - Matador Network
Apr 6, 2022 · We discuss drag culture in anti-LGBTQ countries with international drag queens who risk their life and freedom for their art and passion.
[60]
Drag Culture: A Global Perspective - CATALYST PLANET
Jun 23, 2025 · Drag culture in Thailand, Brazil, South Africa and Australia has played a significant role in celebrating gender diversity and promoting freedom ...
[61]
The Battle over Drag Queen Story Hour - Capital Research Center
Jul 10, 2024 · This story illustrates why the growing trend of drag queens reading to children is so controversial and why so many people are alarmed.
[62]
Most parents say drag queen events are inappropriate for kids | U.S.
Nov 23, 2022 · About 60% of American adults consider such events as Drag Queen Story Hour to be inappropriate for children, according to a Rasmussen Reports ...
[63]
Drag queen events are increasingly targeted by right-wing ... - PBS
Dec 5, 2022 · A new report by the LGBTQ media advocacy group GLAAD found at least 124 instances of drag events being protested, threatened or attacked this year in 47 states.
[64]
What a Drag! - Julie Bindel's writing and podcasts
Oct 2, 2022 · Feminists who dare to criticise this culture are labelled homophobic – as though drag itself were a sexual identity, rather than a deeply ...
[65]
Why has drag escaped critique from feminists and the LGBTQ ...
Apr 25, 2014 · It feels as though drag queens are given free reign to insult women and adopt over-the-top sexist language (bitch, ho, etc.) and objectified depictions of ...
[66]
[PDF] DRAG QUEENS, CHILDREN, AND LIBRARIES, OH MY! A ...
In a study conducted by Brie Radis et al. (2021), the authors look closely at whether DQSH have psychoeducational effects on children. The results provided.
[67]
how the culture wars hijacked Drag Queen Story Hour - The Guardian
Aug 11, 2022 · Shows featuring drag queens reading to young children have proven increasingly popular - but they are also attracting angry protests.
[68]
Republicans across the country push legislation to restrict drag ...
Feb 5, 2023 · A slew of bills, mostly in Republican-led states, are looking to restrict or prohibit drag show performances in the presence of children.
[69]
Poll shows US public support for LGBTQ+ protections falling for first ...
Mar 12, 2024 · Public support for same-sex marriage and nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Americans has fallen, even as the overall share remains high.
[70]
NHRA History
Born on the backroads of America in the post-World War II years, drag racing's roots were planted on dry lake beds like Muroc in California's Mojave Desert.
[71]
NATIONAL RECORDS - NHRA
NATIONAL RECORDS ; PS, 6.443, 03/7/2025, Greg Anderson - Charlotte, NC, Camaro ; PS, 215.55, 05/30/2014, Erica Enders - Montgomery, TX '14 Chevy ; PSM, 6.627, 10/ ...
[72]
Drag Racing | History Detectives - PBS
Drag racing was born in the dry lake beds in the California deserts. In the 1930s as engines got better and drivers got braver, speeds began topping 100mph.
[73]
Drag racing | Research Starters - EBSCO
The first actual organized drag race in the United States took place in 1949 at a Marine Corps air base in Goleta, California. This early stage in the ...Missing: records facts
[74]
The Day Organized Drag Racing Was Born - Hot Rod
Jul 2, 2020 · On that day in 1950 the first "official" drag race took place at an out-of-commission Army airbase in Santa Ana, California.
[75]
The History of Drag Racing | DrivingLine
Sep 2, 2015 · 1956: Competition for the NHRA came from the AHRA—the American Hot Rodding Association. AHRA was a small but influential circuit of smaller drag ...
[76]
Hot rod history with Jack Beckman, a recap of drag racing: 1950-1959
Jul 8, 2020 · Jack walks us through the basics of when commercially successful drag racing began, and how Wally Parks made the case for the creation of a National Hot Rod ...
[77]
How the NHRA Works - Auto | HowStuffWorks
Jan 29, 2009 · If you're new to the world of drag racing, the NHRA can teach you the basics of the sport, what a typical racing weekend is like, where to take ...<|separator|>
[78]
Drag Racing Classes - NHRA
Comp, Super Stock, and Stock are made up of a variety of classes equalized by a handicap starting system. Top Dragster and Top Sportsman feature a single class ...Missing: safety | Show results with:safety
[79]
Understanding Drag Racing Classes and Divisions
Jun 26, 2025 · This article aims to demystify the various drag classes, providing insights into their characteristics, vehicle requirements, and the competitive spirit.Missing: advancements | Show results with:advancements
[80]
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/the-toolbox/nhra-rules-for-newbies-and-drag-racing-safety-requirements/145824
[81]
BRITTANY BLAZES TO NATIONAL RECORD AT 341.59 MPH!
Apr 25, 2025 · In becoming the first Top Fuel driver to break the 340-mph barrier, the 38-year-old eclipsed her own NHRA record of 338.94 mph which she set at ...
[82]
Fastest speed in an NHRA Drag Racing Top Fuel race (1000 ft)
At the NHRA Northwest Nationals in Washington, she hit the fastest speed ever recorded in the sport's history – 341.85 km/h – outstripping Funny Car racer's ...
[83]
[PDF] Equipment - Drags - Cornell Cooperative Extension Saratoga County
Drags include chain drag harrows for pasture, spike harrows, and old style drag harrows with adjustable teeth. Chain drags can have pin or three-point hitch ...
[84]
Unlock the Power of Drag Harrow Tractor Attachments
Sep 4, 2025 · A drag harrow is a ground-engaging tractor attachment designed to break up, smooth out, and prepare soil surfaces. Unlike a disc harrow that ...
[85]
https://www.agrisupply.com/spike-disc-drag-harrows/c/2000014/
[86]
The History of the Harrow - Farm Collector
Mar 30, 2017 · Lastly a harrow, an open frame with several rows of either spike or spring teeth and sometimes called a smoothing, or drag harrow, was run over ...
[87]
https://www.landtopmall.com/collections/drag-harrows
[88]
Wingfield American Harrow - American Steel. American Labor ...
The Wingfield American Harrow is a versatile drag harrow made with high-quality steel, designed for durability, and manufactured in the USA.Missing: implements tools
[89]
Drag Lake - Place names
Geographical naming authorities are in the process of addressing many offensive place names, but the work is still ongoing. For more information, please contact ...
[90]
Place names - Drag River
### Summary of Drag River
[91]
Kalmar (Sweden): Localities in Municipalities - City Population
The population of all municipalities in Kalmar county according to official estimates. ... Drag (incl. Söregärde), Locality, Kalmar ... ... ... ... 274, 463 ...
[92]
Drag, Norway: All You Must Know Before You Go (2025) - Tripadvisor
Drag Tourism: Tripadvisor has of Drag Hotels, Attractions, and Restaurants making it your best Drag resource.
[93]
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drag
[94]
Drag - Etymology, Origin & Meaning
Originating from Old Norse draga and Old English dragan, from Proto-Germanic *draganan, "drag" means to pull or draw, originally referring to dragging a ...
[95]
drag / drag race / main drag - Wordorigins.org
Sep 4, 2023 · The present-day verb drag comes to us from the Old English verb dragan, with the same meaning, and it either developed from proto-Germanic ...
[96]
drag, v. meanings, etymology and more - Oxford English Dictionary
There are 31 meanings listed in OED's entry for the verb drag, three of which are labelled obsolete. See 'Meaning & use' for definitions, usage, and quotation ...
[97]
drag feet (or heels) meaning, origin, example, sentence, history
Apr 2, 2023 · When someone uses the expression “drag one's feet” or “drag one's heels,” it suggests that they are trying to avoid doing something or are trying to put off ...
[98]
Drag - Idioms by The Free Dictionary
be a drag on (one) · be dragged kicking and screaming · be dragged through the mud · be dragging (one's) feet · be dragging your feet · cop a drag · drag · drag ...
[99]
Definition of DRAG THROUGH THE MIRE/MUD - Merriam-Webster
idiom : to unfairly damage or ruin His name/reputation has been dragged through the mire/mud. Examples of drag through the mire/mud in a Sentence